Emissions will rise as hunt for new fuels heats up – opinion

Oceanly, which specialises in fleet performance optimisation and efficiency, says the green fuels push could actually produce more global emissions in its drive to curb them.

“As the race to decarbonise the industry focuses on alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels and liquefied natural gas, the industry could be compounding the very problem it is trying to solve,” says general manager Frederik Lerche-Tornoe.

The problem, he says, is that current infrastructure and energy availability simply cannot support a full transition. Yet, anyway. There needs to be a focus on making energy more efficient and using smarter practices until there is enough of an alternative to switch from conventional fuels.

“While alternative fuels are part of the future, current infrastructure and energy availability isn’t enough to support a full transition,” Lerche-Tornoe says. “Relying too heavily on green hydrogen could strain global renewable energy resources given that only a fraction of today’s hydrogen production is classified as ‘green’.

“There’s a vital need for balance. Focusing on immediate improvements in energy efficiency offers a more achievable path to reducing emissions now, especially as most vessels have yet to adopt energy-saving technologies, leaving the potential for progress.”

The focus, he says, should be on smarter practices and ‘incremental improvements’ until renewable technologies are more accessible, to counteract the massive inefficiencies involved in producing and using so-called green fuels. Around 80% of energy is lost from renewable electricity production via green hydrogen and e-fuels to a ship’s propeller, he says.

“While there is an absolute understanding for the need for greener fuels, the need to address the current inefficiencies is equally as important, to ensure that shipping is ready for a future powered by renewables,” says Lerche-Tornoe.

Oceanly is based in Genoa, Italy.